Chamara requests for 2nd vehicle permit

Uva Chief minister - Chamara Sampath Dasanayake has made a request from the Finance ministry to provide him with a duty-free vehicle permit entitled to parliamentarians.

Noting that he too was a parliamentarian of the 8th parliament for a month-long period, Mr. Dasanayake says that he is therefore entitled to this privilage and has informed the neccessary authorities.

At the present Mr. Dasanayaka has already obtained the duty-free vehicle permit entitled to a provincial chief minister.

Parliamentarians are able to use their duty-free permit import a vehicle of USD 62,500. A provinicial chief minister too, is able to import a vehicle of similar value with their duty-free permit.

Upon contacting the Information Director of the Finance Minister - Mr. M. Ali Hassen on this regard, ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns that a provinicial chief minister is entitled to a vehicle permit after 2 1/2 years in office. However, a request must be made on this regard from the ministry of provincial councils and local government, he added.

Although the CM had requested for a second vehicle permit in this manner, reports say that he would be entitled to just a single permit under the prevailing circumstances.